KENZO and Levi’s have joined forces to create the capsule collection of denim lovers’ dreams. The collection is the first collaboration under Nigo at KENZO and fuses the cultural heritages of the Parisian-Japanese fashion house and the American apparel company.
The 20-piece collection is composed of garments and accessories crafted mainly in Kaihara premium Japanese denim and exemplifies the ongoing mix of historical Japanese dressmaking with classic American workwear.
Pieces in the KENZO x Levi’s capsule collection are branded with a marque uniting the iconic Levi Strauss & Co. two horse pull logo with the KENZO logo. In a nod to the chain-stitched name badges found on factory worker uniforms in the early 20th century, KENZO logos appear above pockets.
The collection’s gender-inclusive outerwear includes a denim jacket with a detachable faux fur collar, and a denim fringe jacket with Western yokes, both inspired by 1980s pieces from the KENZO JUNGLE line. The Levi’s Type II Trucker Jacket from 1967 has been reimagined in red satin with a Boke flower and Western details. Dungarees reminiscent of the original Levi’s archetype appear in both a dark indigo rinse and the trompe l’oeil Sashiko print.
Gender-inclusive Levi’s 501 Jeans include a vintage-washed denim interpretation hand-distressed in Japan and a rinse indigo adaptation with leather and denim suspenders. The collection is tied together with accessories that complement the collection’s conversation between workwear and tailoring. Accessories include a denim tie, denim cardholder, and a red Western bandana
The capsule collection epitomises the real-to-wear functionality key to Nigo’s KENZO approach. An avid collector of historical clothing, the designer’s archives in Japan hold a considerable catalogue of American denim pieces including original Levi Strauss & Co. workwear created for cowboys and miners.
